For a widespread understanding of the role of our Police and increased fairness in the way they are publicly represented.
From the video:
" A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, I guess,
a mingling of saint and sinner, dust and deity.
Cold statistics wave the fan over stinkers, underscore instances of
dishonesty and brutality because they are news. What that really means
is that they are exceptional, they are unusual, they are not common place.
Buried under the froth is the fact, and the fact is that less than 1% of
Policemen misfit that uniform and that is a better average than
you'd find among clergymen.
What is a Policeman?
He of all men is at once the most needed and the most wanted.
A strangely nameless creature who is "Sir" to his face and "Pig"
or worse behind his back.
He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences
between individuals so that each will think he won.
If a Policeman is neat, he is conceited if he is careless he's a bum!
If he is pleasant he's a flirt if he's not he's a grouch.
He must make instant decisions that would require months for a lawyer!
But, if he hurries he's careless if he's deliberate he's lazy!
He must be first to an accident, infallible with a diagnosis.
He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and
above all be sure the victim goes home without a limp ... or expect to be sued!
The Police Officer must know every gun drawer on the run and hit where it
doesn't hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and
half his age without damaging his uniform and without being brutal.
If you hit him he's a coward, if he hits you he's a bully.
A Policeman must know everything and not tell. He must know where all of the
sin is and not partake.
The Policeman from a single human hair must be able to describe
the crime, the weapon, the criminal and tell you where the criminal
is hiding ... but .. if he catches the criminal he's lucky! If he doesn't he's a dunce!
If he gets promoted he has political pull if he doesn't he's a dullard.
The Policeman must chase bum leads to a dead end, stake out ten nights
to tag one witness who saw it happen but refuses to remember.
He runs files and writes reports until his eyes ache, to build
a case against some felon who will get dealed out by a shameless Shamus or
an honourable who isn't honourable.
The Policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy
and a gentleman.
And of course he will have to be a genious because he will have to feed
a family on a Policeman's salary
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
(John 14:13)
